Dr. Marcus Doherty’s 2013 PhD thesis, “The theory of the nitrogen-vacancy colour centre in diamond,” was awarded the Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence. Doherty now applies that expertise as Chief Technology Officer at Quantum Brilliance while simultaneously serving within the Future Land Warfare Branch of Army Headquarters, leading the implementation of Army’s Quantum Technology Roadmap, the company says.
This dual role reflects a direct connection between advances in quantum computing and Australian military strategy. Doherty has also received the Ruby Payne-Scott Medal of the Australian Institute of Physics, the C.N Yang Award of the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies, and the Conspicuous Service Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions.
Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers: Foundation of Diamond Quantum Technology
The 2013 Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence recognized Marcus Doherty’s doctoral work on the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, establishing a foundation for current advances in quantum technology. The long-term study of NV centers, beginning in the late 1960s, has revealed capabilities including room-temperature spin coherence and high-fidelity operations, setting diamond apart from many other qubit technologies. A 2009 study demonstrated room-temperature coherence times exceeding one millisecond for NV centers in engineered diamond, a benchmark that surpasses the performance of many qubits requiring cryogenic cooling.
This result, stemming from over two decades of peer-reviewed research by thousands of scientists, validates the potential for diamond-based quantum systems to operate under ambient conditions. Quantum Brilliance applies this established physics to both sensing and computing applications with a single qubit type; ensembles of NV centers function as quantum detectors for sensing, while arrays of individual centers process information as qubits for computing.
This versatility positions diamond as a unique platform capable of addressing a broad range of quantum tasks, according to the company. The company’s “Smart Diamond chips” represent a step toward scalable manufacturing, integrating NV qubits with the necessary electronic and photonic interfaces for control signals. These chips are designed with specific NV qubit layouts, orientations and functionalities, mirroring established semiconductor manufacturing processes. Unlike many quantum technologies reliant on complex infrastructure, diamond’s compatibility with existing fabrication techniques offers a pathway to volume production.
“If quantum technology is going to leave the laboratory and reach the vehicles, aircraft, drones, satellites, and data centers that need it, the technology must be both deployable and manufacturable at volume,” according to Quantum Brilliance, highlighting the importance of practical considerations. This many-sided career highlights the growing convergence of quantum research, entrepreneurial ventures and national security interests, all built upon the foundational understanding of the NV center in diamond.
Room-Temperature Operation Distinguishes Diamond Qubit Performance
Diamond’s inherent stiffness explains its ability to maintain quantum coherence at ambient temperatures, a feat exceeding many qubit technologies still reliant on near-absolute zero cooling. Lattice vibrations, a primary cause of decoherence in other quantum systems, are suppressed in diamond due to its rigid structure, even at room temperature, allowing for sustained spin coherence exceeding one millisecond as demonstrated in a 2009 study, the company says.
This extended coherence time is not merely a laboratory curiosity. It’s a foundational element enabling practical quantum applications beyond the confines of specialized facilities. The claim of “room-temperature operation” is often used loosely, but Quantum Brilliance emphasizes a precise definition, distinguishing its approach from systems that still depend on extreme cold or vacuum elsewhere in the setup.
While atomic vapor sensors also operate at room temperature, their manufacturing process, reliant on precisely engineered glass cells, presents a significant barrier to achieving the volumes needed for widespread deployment. Diamond uniquely combines room-temperature operation with a semiconductor-style manufacturing path, a distinction that sets it apart from superconducting and trapped-ion systems, which remain tethered to cryogenic refrigerators and vacuum chambers. “We strongly believe that quantum is only useful if it’s deployable in large volumes,” and this belief drives their focus on manufacturability, aiming to replicate the production scales currently achieved in conventional chip fabrication.
Diamond Qubits Enable Both Sensing and Quantum Computing
Quantum Brilliance is collaborating with imec, a leading semiconductor research and development hub, to transition new chip technologies prototypes toward high-volume production. This partnership focuses on improving on-diamond integration of both electronic and photonic interfaces, an important step for scaling quantum devices. Quantum Brilliance applies a single foundational building block, the nitrogen-vacancy center, and modifies its arrangement to create specialized chips, the company states. This focus on scalability is a strategic necessity for widespread adoption.
Quantum Brilliance is also actively building a resilient supply chain for quantum-grade diamond substrates, working with diamond suppliers globally to ensure consistent material quality and scalability for both computing and sensing applications. While building qubits for quantum computing presents a greater challenge, the supply of qubits is currently more advanced for sensing applications.
The versatility of diamond allows for a single qubit type to serve both sensing and computing purposes, streamlining development and potentially reducing costs. This approach contrasts with other platforms that often require distinct qubit technologies for each application. The company’s strategy centers on creating a platform that can span nearly all of sensing and computing with a single qubit type, simplifying the path to commercialization and broad deployment.
Smart Diamond Chips: Scaling Quantum Manufacturing Pathways
The fabrication of Quantum Brilliance’s “Smart Diamond chips” relies on established semiconductor industry processes, streamlining the path toward large-scale production. Unlike many emerging quantum technologies requiring specialized infrastructure, these chips integrate nitrogen-vacancy qubits with electronic and photonic layers directly onto a diamond substrate, then use off-the-shelf packaging and assembly techniques already operating at full scale. This approach circumvents the need for entirely new manufacturing facilities, a significant barrier to widespread quantum adoption. While room-temperature operation is not unique to diamond, the combination with a semiconductor-compatible manufacturing pathway is.
Currently, large-scale diamond foundries do not exist, meaning Quantum Brilliance is not yet running diamond chips through a TSMC-scale production line. However, the company’s design philosophy prioritizes compatibility with existing infrastructure, positioning it to rapidly scale production once such facilities become available. The Smart Diamond chip is assembled with components already available in the semiconductor industry, packaged and shipped, with the diamond chip itself representing the sole novel element in the manufacturing process.
Applying existing capabilities is a deliberate strategy to overcome the challenges of scaling quantum manufacturing. The platform’s characteristics, room-temperature operation, room-pressure environment, a specialized diamond chip, and conventional semiconductor fabrication are summarized by Quantum Brilliance as the key to unlocking practical quantum technology. The company asserts that this combination allows for the potential manufacture of quantum devices at volumes comparable to those of conventional chips.
The Smart Diamond chip is defined as a piece of engineered diamond that includes both NV qubits and the electronic and photonic layers necessary to deliver control signals, functioning as a self-contained device due to the integrated control and readout systems. Quantum Brilliance views its approach as a direct response to the need for deployable and scalable quantum technology building on over 50 years of research effort in the field.
The company’s ambition is to move beyond laboratory demonstrations and deliver quantum solutions to real-world applications, a goal that hinges on the ability to manufacture quantum hardware at scale.
Source: https://quantumbrilliance.com/blog/is-diamond-quantum-technology-practical/
